TOKYO — Japan denied a newspaper report Friday that it was considering pulling its troops out of southern Iraq after Britain told Tokyo that coalition forces in the south would soon hand over responsibility for security to Iraqis.

The daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported Friday that Britain had told Japan the transfer of the security authority for Muthanna Province would be announced on June 20 and that the transfer would be carried out promptly. But Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Shinzo Abe, said that he was unaware of any decision on a date or place for the transfer of authority for security.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has repeatedly said that Japan would have to carefully consider the situation in Iraq before deciding to withdraw its troops, and that coordination with Britain and Australia was needed to decide the timing.

Yomiuri reported that after receiving information from Britain, Tokyo was considering announcing a decision later this month to withdraw its 600 troops from Samawa. A spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain said: "I can't confirm these reports because essentially first and foremost this is a matter for the Iraqi government."

He added: "But the way this would work would be that the Iraqi government would decide when it is ready to take over a province, the authority would be taken by the Iraqi authorities and then gradually that would affect troops numbers."

The Kyodo news agency reported that Koizumi could announce the withdrawal of Japanese troops as early as Wednesday.